FR Doc 05-10803
[Federal Register: June 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 104)]
[Notices]               
[Page 31511]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn05-111]                         


[[Page 31511]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3003, of the 
completion of an inventory of human remains in the possession of the 
American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY. The human remains 
were removed from Big Horn County, MT.

    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.
    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by American 
Museum of Natural History professional staff in consultation with 
representatives of the Crow Tribe of Montana.
    In 1928, human remains representing a minimum of one individual 
were removed by Dr. W.A. Russell from an unknown site in Big Horn 
Canyon, Big Horn County, MT. The human remains were found in 
association with a European feather bed, some old blankets, a feather 
fan, and part of a beaded shirtsleeve. The human remains, feather fan, 
and beaded shirtsleeve were acquired by the American Museum of Natural 
History in 1928. Prior to 1990, the American Museum of Natural History 
initiated consultation with the Crow Tribe of Montana regarding the 
return of the human remains and associated funerary objects. The 
American Museum of Natural History transferred control of the human 
remains and associated funerary objects to the Crow Tribe of Montana. A 
notice of inventory completion was not published at the time since, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3009 (2), the museum's actions were in response 
to a repatriation request pending on the date of enactment of NAGPRA. 
In completing the museum's NAGPRA inventory, one additional element 
from the human remains was discovered in storage. No known individual 
was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    The skeletal morphology and burial practices indicate that the 
human remains are Native American. The previously returned associated 
funerary objects date to the post-contact period. The human remains 
were found within the post-contact territory of the Crow Tribe of 
Montana.
    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (9-10), the human remains described 
above represent the physical remains of one individual of Native 
American ancestry. Officials of the American Museum of Natural History 
also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the Native American human remains and the Crow Tribe of 
Montana.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Nell 
Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural 
History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, 
telephone (212) 769-5837, before July 1, 2005. Repatriation of the 
human remains to the Crow Tribe of Montana may begin after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Crow Tribe of Montana that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 20, 2005.
Paul Hoffman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 05-10803 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]

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